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Cheapest Cars to Repair and Maintain
March 16, 2017
This week, I wanted to alert you to a new study done by RepairPal.com, showing the cheapest and most expensive cars to repair and maintain, based on actual repair and maintenance data compiled by the service.
For example, when looking at small cars, the Toyota Corolla is expected to have $341 in annual repair and maintenance costs, while the Volkswagen Golf GTI will have double that - $760.
See below for the cheapest and most expensive cars by category.
Cheapest to Repair & Maintain
| Category | Vehicle | RepairPal Score | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small cars | Toyota Corolla | 21 | $341 |
| Sedans | Honda Accord | 21 | $351 |
| Sports Cars | Ford Mustang | 27 | $454 |
| Compact SUV | Honda CR-V | 22 | $385 |
| Full-Size SUV | Nissan Pathfinder | 24 | $406 |
| Minivan | Honda Odyssey | 24 | $403 |
| Pickup Truck | Toyota Tacoma | 23 | $398 |
Most Expensive to Repair & Maintain
| Category | Vehicle | RepairPal Score | Average Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Cars | Volkswagen Golf GTI | 43 | $760 |
| Sedans | Mercedes C300 | 68 | $1,094 |
| Sports Cars | Mercedes SL63 AMG | 85 | $1,962 |
| Compact SUV | Porsche Cayenne | 72 | $1,200 |
| Full-size SUV | Mercedes GLS63 | 85 | $2,009 |
| Minivan | Kia Sedona | 26 | $455 |
| Pickup Truck | Ram 3500 | 73 | $1,244 |
3 Steps Every Car Buyer Needs to Take to Save Maximum Money
The key to getting the best deal is to gather price or lease bids from as many local dealers as possible. Then shop that best price around until no one can beat it. Here are the steps:Step 1 Get Prices From My Trusted Network
Select the vehicle you're interested in to see if there are local dealers in my network who will provide you with their best upfront price. You will get direct access to an internet sales manager who you can further negotiate with online (no need to visit dealership).Select Vehicle to Get Local Pricing
Step 2 Get Prices From TrueCar / CarsDirect
TrueCar, and CarsDirect are my top 2 online price quote recommendations. These services show you pre-negotiated prices from dealers closest to you - and the deals are usually pretty decent. But remember, you can still negotiate further.Step 3 Complete my Checklist
Follow this up with my checklist to make sure you squeeze out every last bit of savings.- Gregg Fidan
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About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate
the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.
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